Theory of grating-confined broad-area lasers

Author

Lang, Robert J. ; Dzurko, Ken ; Hardy, Amos A. ; Demars, Scott ; Schoenfelder, Alexander ; Welch, David F.

Author_Institution

SDL Inc., San Jose, CA, USA

Volume

34

Issue

11

fYear

1998

fDate

11/1/1998 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

2196

Lastpage

2210

Abstract

Angled-distributed-feedback semiconductor lasers have demonstrated 1-W diffraction-limited collimated output from a broad-area aperture. We present the first theoretical analysis of the modes of these devices, explaining their principle of operation and the reasons for their high spatial mode quality. A transfer matrix analysis is presented that can describe the general class of grating-guided waveguides with either finite and/or infinite grating boundaries. Lateral grating-confined broad-area waveguides are shown to have extremely high spatial mode selectivity. The theory is applied to describe the new angled-grating distributed feedback laser (α-DFB), predicting a broad near-Gaussian near field and a collimated diffraction-limited far field, in good agreement with experiment

Keywords

diffraction gratings; distributed feedback lasers; laser modes; light diffraction; semiconductor lasers; waveguide lasers; DFB lasers; angled-distributed-feedback semiconductor lasers; broad near-Gaussian near field; broad-area aperture; collimated diffraction-limited far field; diffraction-limited collimated output; finite grating boundaries; grating-confined broad-area laser theory; grating-guided waveguides; high spatial mode quality; high spatial mode selectivity; infinite grating boundaries; lateral grating-confined broad-area waveguides; principle of operation; transfer matrix analysis; waveguide lasers; Apertures; Collimators; Diffraction; Distributed feedback devices; Gratings; Laser feedback; Laser modes; Laser theory; Semiconductor lasers; Transmission line matrix methods;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Quantum Electronics, IEEE Journal of

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0018-9197

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/3.726614

Filename

726614